Michael N. DeMers

Michael N. DeMers is a geographer and professor emeritus of geography at New Mexico State University.

Education and field DeMers obtained a B.S.Ed. in Earth science in 1974 and an M.S. in geography in 1980, both from the University of North Dakota. He earned an M.Phil. in geography in 1983, and a Ph.D. in geography in 1985, both from the University of Kansas. He has taught geography and courses related to geographic information systems (GIS) since 1983, and obtained a GCERT in Online Teaching and Learning from New Mexico State University in 2007.

Career DeMers became a faculty member in the geography department at New Mexico State University in 1992, and served as department head between 2000 and 2004. He advocates teaching geography in public schools using geographic information systems and has worked to increase public awareness of GIScience. His works have been cited over 3600 times, giving him an h-index of 21. In addition, he has authored or edited the following books:

(Translated into Arabic) (translated into Russian and Chinese)

Awards

Over the course of his career, DeMers has received the following awards: The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science Lifetime Achievement in GIScience Education Award, 2023 New Mexico Geographic Information Council Wheeler Peak Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award, University of North Dakota, 2013 Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography "for exceptional accomplishments in applied geography education, research, and service to the profession and the wider public, 2010." Highest Award for Achievement, Dale Carnegie Training, Fall, 2003. It was awarded to NMSU graduate students whose thesis focused on novel applications to GIS, or to GIS education. The first of these to be published is the book Young Vandar.